Lionel Messi and Argentina will look to officially lock up a knockout stage place with room to spare as they meet two-time Copa America champions Chile in the shadow of New York City on Tuesday.
After collecting a hard-fought three points against Canada in the tournament’s opening match, Argentina are well on their way towards what they hope will be the first title defense since today’s opponent Chile won in back-to-back years across 2015 and 2016.
The Albiceleste last went back-to-back in 1991 and 1993, but went without a single Copa America title since then before winning the 2021 edition.
Chile, meanwhile, appear rudderless at the moment, searching for the successful formula they possessed a decade ago. They sit eighth in the CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying table for the current cycle, having failed to qualify for the previous World Cup.
They played to a disappointing scoreless draw with struggling Peru to open their 2024 Copa America challenge, and would need a big improvement to upset the reigning champions.
The Sporting News is following the Argentina vs. Chile match live, providing score updates, commentary and highlights as they happen.
Argentina vs. Chile live score
| Score (1H) | Goal scorers | |
| Argentina | 0 | – |
| Chile | 0 | – |
Location: MetLife Stadium (East Rutherford, NJ)
Referee: Andres Matonte (URU)
Starting lineups:
Argentina (4-3-3, right to left): 23. E. Martinez (GK) — 26. Molina, 13. Romero, 25. Li. Martinez, 3. Tagliafico — 7. De Paul, 24. E. Fernandez, 20. Mac Allister — 10. Messi, 9. Alvarez, 15. N. Gonzalez.
Chile (4-2-3-1, right to left): 1. Bravo (GK) — 4. Isla, 16. Lichnovsky, 5. P. Diaz, 2. Suazo — 13. Pulgar, 18. Echeverria — 9. Davila, 10. A. Sanchez, 8. Osorio — 11. C. Vargas.
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Argentina vs. Chile live updates, highlights from Copa America
25th min: Well this will concern Argentina fans. Lionel Messi is fouled on the touchline, and as he gets up, he immediately heads to the touchline to receive treatment. He’s off for an amount of time that’s not insignificant, as a trainer uses a cream to aggressively rub down his right adductor.
Argentina play for a few minutes down to 10 men, but Messi is able to come back on the field and continue. He has had a history of muscle injuries…
HIGHLIGHT: Watch in USA
22nd min: Chance, Argentina! The first opportunity in front of net falls to Julian Alvarez of Argentina, who looks to turn in a cutback by Nico Gonzalez from six yards out, but he gets no power on the effort and it’s into the arms of Claudio Bravo.
Then moments later Lionel Messi looks to feed vertically Gonzalez at full speed, and as it goes out of play, the Argentine winger is furious that a corner is not given.
20th min: We’re closing in on the first quarter of the match and the teams have combined for one shot. Chile have effectively mucked this game up. Neither side can get anything notable going. The ball has stayed in the middle third of the pitch for most of the opening stage, and when Argentina manage to get forward, there’s simply no space.
13th min: Chile’s approach to this match, other than their trademark overtly physical play, is to clog the middle of the pitch and force Argentina to go out wide. The thought is if Argentina want to force the ball to Lionel Messi, let him receive it on the touchline rather than through the middle.
It’s having the desired effect, but they can’t maintain possession. Argentina’s counter-press is working to perfection, winning the ball back immediately every time they lose it.
8th min: Comically, it takes three tries to get play restarted via a drop ball following the Davila injury. Rodrigo De Paul is hounded by a Chilean player and the referee wants it redone. Technicalities!
5th min: Argentina have been a bit sloppy to begin this game, just like they were against Canada. Chile snatch the ball and begin a move forward and Mauricio Isla sends a ball into the penalty area that just barely evades a leaping Victor Davila.
Davila is down and requires treatment, clearly shaken up from the aerial duel. He is looked at for quite some time before getting up and walking off under his own power. It looks like he’s being troubled by a blow to the left eye, whether from the challenge or the landing.
Kickoff: They’re under way at MetLife Stadium! Lionel Messi not only looks to lead Argentina to confirmation of a knockout stage spot, but he goes up Chile striker Eduardo Vargas who has one more career Copa America goal. Can Messi pull himself into the all-time top five?
“Muchachos” echoes through MetLife Stadium- Argentina fans have established a sense of home field advantage in East Rutherford, NJ pic.twitter.com/dNhjF0kwr0
— Lizzy Becherano (@lizzy_becherano) June 26, 2024
Argentina vs. Chile: Pre-match commentary, analysis, more
15 mins to kickoff: It has been quite hot across the entire United States the last few days, even weeks, and it has had an effect on the Copa America directly. In today’s earlier match between Canada and Peru, an assistant referee collapsed in the 92-degree heat in a scary scene as players rushed to his aid.
It is 85 degrees in East Rutherford right now, with kickoff set shortly. There will be a close attention on the fitness of the players and match staff.
30 mins to kickoff: There’s been a lot of talk about Lionel Messi’s retirement in 2016 following defeat at this very stadium against Chile in the Copa America final. Lionel Scaloni has attempted to put that in the rear view mirror, saying, “The important thing is that Messi is here. It doesn’t matter what he said in 2016, we have to live in the present.
45 mins to kickoff: The other Group A match has finished, with Canada winning 1-0 on a late goal by Jonathan David. It was a poor performance from both teams, in truth, as Canada were extremely sloppy while Peru’s discipline got the better of them with a red card early in the second half. Les Rouges were saved by goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau on numerous occasions, which isn’t a great look playing with an extra man.
If Argentina get by with even a point here today, they are very likely to top the group against a Peru side that seems out of sorts and hasn’t scored a competitive goal in ages. They have such a soft draw in this tournament.
The first-ever goal for Canada in Copa América ✅
The first goal for Canada in the Jesse Marsch era ✅Jonathan David made history for Canada today 👏🇨🇦 pic.twitter.com/eB0aME1Wdh
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) June 25, 2024
1 hour to kickoff: Lineups have been released, and the reported changes for Argentina have come to pass as Lionel Scaloni indeed makes three alterations to his side. You have to wonder if this is more like his “first-choice” starting XI after giving an aging Angel Di Maria and rotation midfielder Leandro Paredes a chance to play against a Canada side that could be argued are the weakest in the group.
For Chile, there’s just one change as head coach Ricardo Gareca drops Villarreal forward Ben Brereton Diaz in favor of 20-year-old Dario Osorio, who plays for Norwegian side FC Midtjylland.
1 hour 15 mins to kick: This very venue in the shadow of New York City was the site of Chile’s 2016 Copa America Centenario title win, where they topped Argentina in that match. These two teams have gone in complete opposite directions since then, and surely Argentina will wish to exact revenge in this competition for that game, even if it was some time ago.
Lionel Messi missed a decisive penalty for Argentina in their loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which led to his retirement from international football.
Today, he’ll play against Chile at the same stadium as a reigning Copa America,… pic.twitter.com/YEjdaPhXCP
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 25, 2024
1 hour 30 mins to kick: If Chile are to have any success in this tournament, they will need Alexis Sanchez to rediscover his form. Unfortunately, the 35-year-old has shown no signs of such transformation, having failed to score or assist a goal in any of his last seven international appearances, and he’s coming off a forgettable season with Inter where he scored two and assisted five in 23 games, logging just 750 minutes in a bit-part role.
With no young players coming through behind him, Sanchez is still relied upon, but they need him to find his old magic in his twilight years. Somehow, he won Man of the Match in the scoreless draw between Chile and Peru, so maybe there’s something left in the tank.
1 hour 45 mins to kick: If reports are to be believed, Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni is set to make a number of changes from the opening XI against Canada.
According to Gaston Edul, he will bring Nico Gonzalez, Enzo Fernandez, and Nicolas Tagliafico into the starting lineup. It seems as if Angel Di Maria, Leandro Paredes, and Marcos Acuna will be the ones to drop out.
2 hours to kickoff: Chile are in desperate need of young talent in the attack, as the lack of a capable next generation has left 35-year-old Alexis Sanchez and 34-year-old Eduardo Vargas in their positions up front for much longer than anticipated.
Their drop-off, combined with the lack of replacements, has seen a stark decline in Chile’s goal scoring capabilities in recent years. Sanchez is without a goal contribution in his last 11 international appearances, dating back to March of 2023 when he scored against Paraguay in a friendly. He hasn’t scored in a competitive match for over two years, going back to his brace against Bolivia in a World Cup qualifier in February of 2022. He blamed another goose egg against Peru in the opener on the referees.
Vargas hasn’t fallen off quite as sharply, continuing to fire up front for Brazilian club Atletico Mineiro, but he has just two international goals since the 2021 Copa America, having been phased out of the side before being brought back into the fold this year out of desperation.
⚽️🇨🇱La crítica solapada de Alexis Sánchez a la poca preparación de la Roja previo a la Copa América: “Jugamos un solo partido antes de venir” https://t.co/jUBwvxNiBr pic.twitter.com/4skI57381K
— La Tercera (@latercera) June 22, 2024
Argentina vs. Chile kickoff time
This 2024 Copa America group match kicks off from MetLife Stadium on Tuesday, June 25 at 9 p.m. local time in East Rutherford, NJ just outside New York City. Here’s how that time translates across some of the major territories around the globe:
| Date | Kickoff time | |
| USA/Canada | Tue, Jun. 25 | 9 p.m. ET |
| USA/Canada | Tue, Jun. 25 | 6 p.m. PT |
| UK | Wed, Jun. 26 | 2 a.m. BST |
| Australia | Wed, Jun. 26 | 11 a.m. AEST |
| India | Wed, Jun. 26 | 6:30 a.m. IST |
Copa America 2024 Group A standings
| Pos. | Team | GP | Points | W-D-L | Goals For | Goals Against |
| 1. | Argentina | 1 | 3 | 1-0-0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2. | Chile | 1 | 1 | 0-1-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3. | Peru | 1 | 0 | 0-1-0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4. | Canada | 1 | 0 | 0-0-1 | 0 | 2 |
Argentina vs. Chile lineups, team news, starting 11
Argentina escaped the opening match on a dodgy Atlanta pitch with no injury issues. Therefore, the only questions for head coach Lionel Scaloni heading into this match are tactical, and has made a trio of changes.
He has has gone back to Nico Gonzalez on the wing, with Angel Di Maria dropping out. Meanwhile, Enzo Fernandez comes into midfield for Leandro Paredes, and Nicolas Tagliafico will play left-back in place of Marcos Acuna.
Gio Lo Celso and Rodrigo de Paul were the Argentina players booked in the opener and therefore at risk of a yellow-card suspension if they pick up a second.
Argentina starting lineup (4-3-3): E. Martinez (GK) — Molina, Romero, L. Martinez, Tagliafico — De Paul, E. Fernandez, Mac Allister — Messi, Alvarez, N. Gonzalez.
Argentina subs (15): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
There are two injuries for Chile head coach Ricardo Gareca to work around. Winger Diego Valdes was withdrawn at halftime of the opener with a muscle injury will miss this match, but could potentially return for upcoming matches. Additionally, defender Igor Lichnovsky trained separately from the rest of the squad, but he passes fit to start.
Alexis Sanchez, 35, remains a starter for Chile, but largely only because they have nobody else to take his place at the No. 10. With talisman striker Eduardo Vargas at 34 years old, young talent is desperately needed in the attack to usher in the next generation of Chilean football. There’s one change from the previous match, as Ben Brereton Diaz of Villarreal is dropped for Dario Osorio.
Opening match yellow cards for Sanchez, Victor Davila, and Erick Pulgar leave all three at risk of a suspension should they pick up another booking.
Chile starting lineup (4-2-3-1): Bravo (GK) — Isla, Lichnovsky, P. Diaz, Suazo — Pulgar, Echeverria — Davila, A. Sanchez, Osorio — C. Vargas.
Chile subs (15): (Lineups released one hour prior to kickoff)
Argentina vs. Chile live stream, TV channel
| TV channel | Streaming | |
| USA | FS1, TUDN, Univision | Fubo USA, Fox Sports GO, TUDN app/website, Univision NOW, ViX |
| Canada | RDS | TSN+, RDS app |
| UK | Premier Sports 1 | Premier Sports Player |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| India | — | — |
USA: Argentina’s second match at the 2024 Copa America will be televised in the United States on FS1. There is also a Spanish-language broadcast on both TUDN and Univision. All three channels will be available to stream on Fubo, who are offering a FREE trial for new users.
Canada: The match will be streamed by English-language rights holder TSN on their dedicated platform, TSN+. It will also be televised in French on RDS as well as streamed on RDS+.
United Kingdom: The entire 2024 Copa America will be televised in the UK on Premier Sports 1, with streaming on their platform, Premier Sports Player.
Australia: All 2024 Copa America games are streamed in Australia by exclusive rights-holder Optus Sport.
India: The Copa America is not currently available to watch in India. But if the action is not available viewers may be able to access via a VPN service.
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